Cultured onyx kitchen countertops. Cultured onyx bathroom vanity tops
Natural onyx is a semi-precious form of chalcedony which belongs to the quartz group. Onyx is milky, translucent to transparent and often with layers or bands of color. The color of onyx is created through impurities which seep into the rock as it forms.
Unlike other cultured stone products onyx is a semi-transparent product which shows a lot of depth in the stone. This translucence allows you to see some of the veining down inside the product, rather than simply seeing veining on the surface.
Cultured onyx is a man-made or engineered stone. A mixture of ground onyx, resins, alumina tri-hydrate filler and colourants, for the "veining" effect, are poured into a mold and left to cure. The shape of the products depends on the molds used. This casting process yields a rock hard, durable product which takes on the look and feel of the natural product.
The finished product has a gel-coat finish which is hard and non-porous. Cultured onyx kitchen countertops and cultured onyx bathroom vanity tops resist water, heat, stains, burns and normal everyday wear and tear. The colour and veining of the finished product depends on techniques used by the manufacturer. To get a feel for what is available visit a few different suppliers. Some may even offer a custom made cultured onyx kitchen countertop or cultured onyx bathroom vanity top in a colour that would be a perfect fit for the existing decor of your bathroom or kitchen.
Cultured onyx is well know for its durable, luxurious and unusual off-white attractive translucency but is approximately 30% more expensive than cultured marble.

MAINTENANCE
For regular cleaning use a liquid detergent to remove mineral deposits and soap scum. Dull surfaces can be restored by using a liquid cleaning compound followed by a light application of liquid wax or paste.
Never use abrasive cleaners, steel wool, scouring pads, scrapers, sandpaper, wire brushes or metal tools on any part of the cultured onyx surfaces.
Stains. Stains from hard water or mineral deposits may be removed by a cleaner made for removing iron, calcium, or other mineral deposits found in your water supply. Most cleaners will not damage the gelcoat as long as label instructions are followed.
Scratches. To remove fine scratches, scuff marks or light stains from your high gloss cultured kitchen countertop or cultured bathroom vanity top use an automotive paint buffing compound or baking soda and a hand held polisher